From Your Doctor

Cardiologists

What is a Cardiologist?

A cardiologist is a medical doctor (M.D. or D.O.) who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and management of medical conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels.

Cardiologists will treat a wide range of cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, high cholesterol, hypertension (high blood pressure), congenital heart defects, heart rhythm problems (slow or fast heart beats), congestive heart failure (CHF), heart valve disorders and other heart conditions.

Cardiologist are also trained in performing and interpreting tests, such as electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, chest CT, exercise stress tests. Some cardiologists may perform cardiac catheterizations that involve making small incisions and inserting flexible catheters through arteries or veins. This may be performed as part of a for an angiogram (to make images of the blood vessels perfusing the heart), or to place a stent in the coronary artery to keep the blood flowing to the heart muscles. Although cardiologists are not surgeons, they work closely with cardiovascular surgeons if heart surgery is necessary.

Professional Cardiology Organizations

The American College of Cardiology advocates for quality cardiovascular care – through education, research promotion, development and application of standards and guidelines – and to influence health care policy.

The American Heart Association's (AHA) mission is to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. That single purpose drives all the AHA does. The need for the AHA's work is beyond question. The AHA's impact goal is to reduce coronary heart disease, stroke and risk by 25 percent by 2010.

The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease (WomenHeart) is the only national organization dedicated to promoting women's heart health through advocacy, education and patient support. As the leading voice for the 41 million American women living with or at risk of heart disease, WomenHeart advocates for equal access to quality care and provides information and resources to help women take charge of their heart health.

Featured Cardiologists

Mahmoud Effat, M.D.
Allergist

Purushotham Kotha, M.D. is Board certified in cardiovascular diseases. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (F.A.C.C). Dr. Kotha is a voluntary clinical instructor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). He is currently practicing Invasive and Non Invasive Cardiology in San Diego. Dr. Kotha is affiliated with the University of California, San Diego, Scripps, and Sharp Health Care Systems. Dr. Kotha is also a member of the Scientific Council on Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology of the American Heart Association, and the American Society of Echocardiography. Dr. Kotha is Medical Director of the Risk Intervention in CAD in Indian Americans (RICADIA) Project and is also Chairman of the CAD commitee of AAPI- American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin.